The trial of convicted killer Dale Cregan’s mother was halted today after a medical emergency involving the judge’s family.
Anita Cregan accused of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public offence, has been charged alongside Shaun Booth, 31, after the pair allegedly encouraged Booth’s girlfriend Kathryn Smith, 25, to pass on secret information from her job as a police call handler while a massive manhunt for Dale Cregan was under way.
The trial, on its seventh day, has been abandoned until the summer
Judge David Stockdale told the jury: “I’m sorry to have to tell you that Mr Justice Openshaw, who has presided over this trial throughout, has been called away this morning after a serious medical emergency affecting a very close member of his family.
“He will not be able to attend further at this trial. Because of that it means it is my duty now to discharge you. This trial now comes to an end.
“Decisions of this sort are not taken lightly, obviously. It’s been given the most serious consideration. I must now discharge you from any further participation in this trial.
“Thanks for your close attention in this case.”
The allegations come after claims of Cregan and Booth, both of Sutton Drive, Droylsden, all deny the single count of misconduct in a public office.
The charges are from September 1 2011 and September 9 2012 when Dale Cregan was on the run from police after the murders of father and son David and Mark Short.
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